Ninja Cowboy Bear Presents the Way of the Ninja

PreS-Gr 2—This book, which revisits the characters introduced in The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear (Kids Can, 2009), focuses on one friend who loves "thrills and adventure." The cowboy prefers to paint and the bear wants to pick flowers, but the ninja convinces them to jump on beds and climb trees. Predictably, this leads to injuries for everyone except the ninja, and he is left to play alone. He soon realizes that even hyperkinetic activity is no fun without the company of friends, and a happy ending ensues. Bruins sometimes uses vocabulary that's out of sync with young children, for example: "When they got together it usually led to merrymaking, buffoonery, and hilarity"; "The ninja thought the bear was overreacting." The story is message-driven and prosaically told, and the characters have traits rather than personalities. Leung's computer-art illustrations are reminiscent of video games and anime, and they are sure to appeal to young videophiles. An additional purchase where books on the meaning of friendship are needed.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY